Now, given the times that we are living in, shopping for clothing may not be high on anyone’s list of priorities at the moment. However, if your kids had a growth spurt or you’re shopping for your newest family member (congratulations!) these are my 5 favorite places to shop in Japan for baby and toddler clothes. At 6 years old, my daughter is no longer a toddler, but I still shop at these places!
I’ve always been a fan of online shopping because I love shopping in relative peace and earning points! My top 5 picks also have their own websites and/or apps so you can shop safely from home.
(This list is not sponsored in any way, and the Uniqlo/Carry On entries have no affiliation with previous collaborations. I just genuinely like shopping there!)
My 5 Favorite Places to Shop in Japan for Baby and Toddler Clothes
5. Rakuten Rakuma (楽天らくま)
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Formerly Fril.jp, Rakuma is an online flea market run by Rakuten, which means that you can earn Rakuten points when you shop! (Though it’s now called Rakuma, the website remains fril.jp.)
It’s easy to shop on Rakuma if you already have a Rakuten account, and there’s also an app that makes your shopping much smoother.
Rakuma is my to-go store when shopping for used “specialty” clothes like Shinkansen gear and Disney princess items, costumes, etc. It’s also a great place to find character merchandise, too!
In fact, I picked up Miss M’s Snow White dress and my Wicked Queen dress on Rakuma for just under 4000 yen ($38!). We wore the costumes for our fairytale-themed summer festival at kindergarten and for Disney Halloween. I regularly browse Rakuma for princess dresses and can usually get them for under 1500 yen!
4. Nishi Matsuya (西松屋)
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Nishi Matsuya is very special to me simply because it’s where my mother-in-law and I shopped for newborn clothes and my maternity clothes. Nishi Matsuya doesn’t have a point scheme* so I don’t shop there often. But, when I visit my in-laws, we make trips to Nishi Matsuya to stock up, especially during the summer time when we need to buy beach gear.
What I like most about Nishi Matsuya is its shoe collection. It’s a great place to pick up cute, sturdy toddler shoes for under 1,000 yen.
*Apparently, au Smart Pass Premium members earn an extra 1% when they shop via wowma.jp.
3. Akachan Hompo (アカチャンホンポ)
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“Akachan Honpo” means “baby headquarters” and it’s the place to go for all your baby needs. You name it, Akachan Honpo has got it, whether it’s clothing, diapers, food, formula, books, toys, stroller, car seats, baby-proofing gear… the list goes on!
But, Akachan Honpo isn’t just for babies and toddlers. You can also pick up all your daycare and kindergarten needs here, like bento boxes, indoor shoes, hand towels, bedding, iron transfer labels and so on.
What’s more, Akachan Honpo stocks maternity clothes and has a FANTASTIC selection of supplements for pregnant & nursing women. They also have a solid selection of caffeine-free teas & coffees, too.
Akachan Honpo is also an excellent place to look if you want to pick up decorations for Japanese celebrations for babies and children (like Hina Matsuri and Kodomo no Hi). They also sell formal wear and traditional Japanese attire for events like Shichi Go San or Omiyamairi.
Akachan Honpo has its own point scheme and is also under the “Seven & i” umbrella. This means that you can use your Nanaco card or Seven card for purchases, too!
2. Carry-On (キャリーオン)
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Carry On is Japan’s largest reseller of used children’s clothes. You can use an existing LINE, Google, Yahoo or Amazon account to log in and shop. We have a close relationship with Carry On as Miss M has brand repped/participated in several campaigns. (Again, this entry isn’t sponsored. I was shopping with them before the brand repping started.)
Their sizes range from infants (50 cm) all the way up to elementary/junior high school kids (140+ cm). So, it’s a great place to look if your kids need something for a formal occasion or clothes for a special day. In my case, I found nearly everything (except socks) for my daughter’s kindergarten interview on Carry On!
Carry On specializes in gently used “name brand” apparel from domestic brands like Mezzo Piano, Any Fam, and Miki House, along with overseas brands like Carter’s and Ralph Lauren.
They also buy kids’ clothing in exchange for Carry On points, Amazon gift cards, or cash (bank transfer). Their buy-back scheme is very generous if you opt for Carry On points. I sold around 20 pieces of my girl’s old summer clothing and got about 6,000 yen in store credit!
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What I like about Carry On’s buy-back program is that they’ll mail you a shipping bag with detailed instructions on what brands they accept and how to prepare your items. All you have to do is wash and fold the clothes, drop it off at the post office or combini, and Carry On will do the rest! Once everything is checked, they’ll send you an email with the amount you’ve earned.
If you’re interested in shopping on Carry On, I do have a coupon code to share: INVITE20 for 20% off! (Not an affiliate code; it’s for any new user.)
1. Uniqlo (ユニクロ)
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When it comes to simple, everyday, durable wear, Uniqlo is hands down my favorite place to shop for baby and toddler clothes in Japan. Undershirts, tees, coats, leggings — I get it all at Uniqlo!
Heattech works great as an inner layer on cold days, and nicely compliments the colorful lightweight coats.
Breathable Airism onsies, tanks, and underpants are a must for humid Japanese summer days (and nights).
But, my favorite article of kids’ Uniqlo clothing is its leggings!
Priced just under 1,000 yen, they’re available in a fantastic number of colors and patterns, in sizes from 80 cm to 120 cm. I find Uniqlo fits true to size for Miss M, who is a bit over 110 cm tall and wears 110 cm in tops and bottoms.
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They’re very durable, do not shrink in the wash, and the (solid) colors hardly fade, even after repeated washing. The autumn/winter Uniqlo leggings are lined in fleece and are great for keeping little legs warm. (And go so well with those Light Warm Padded Parkas!) Sometimes you can even find the leggings on sale for 500-600 yen!
How did you like my roundup of my 5 favorite places to shop in Japan for baby and toddler clothes? A sequel, My 5 Favorite Places to Shop in Japan For Women’s Clothes and Shoes, is now LIVE!
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